Role in 2012 RNC: Alternate delegate, daily moved up to take the place of Yantis Green of San Angelo

Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene; master's of business administration from the University of Texas

Position: Certified Public Accountant for Johnson, Miller & Co.

Family: Wife, Venita; two grown children; three grandchildren

TAMPA, Fla. — Every day of the Republican National Convention this week, J.D. Faircloth expects to perform the same ritual to step up from alternate delegate to essentially become a substitute delegate for the congressional district including San Angelo.

The certified public accountant and former mayor of Midland will show up at the room designated at the sprawling Saddlebrook Resort by the Republican Party of Texas for delegation members to pick up their credentials.

Then an RPT staffer will bestow delegate credentials on the first-time national convention-goer. Those credentials were once destined for Tom Green County Precinct 4 Commissioner Yantis Green, who opted not to attend. In July, Green was fired from a water district he managed, and water district files were taken by the FBI shortly thereafter.

"Technically, I am not taking his place," Faircloth, 63, said. "I am getting moved up, but I'm still the alternate."

RPT Deputy Executive Director Chris Elam said every day RPT staffers replace delegates not in attendance with alternates. Elam believes Green hasn't resigned and is technically still a delegate, making the daily routine necessary for Faircloth.

The closely guarded credentials are Faircloth's ticket to the RNC floor where he cast his votes for the GOP nominees for president and vice president Tuesday night. Mitt Romney was nominated for president and Paul Ryan for vice president as expected.

Faircloth stepping into Green's role means Tom Green County is being represented at the federal level by two accountants from Midland.

Rep. Mike Conaway of the 11th Congressional District is a CPA.

"I've known Mike Conaway forever," Faircloth said. "He and I coached Little League together, and so Mike and I are really close friends."

Faircloth has a longtime passion for grass-roots politics.

"I've been a volunteer. I've put up a million 4-by-8 signs and yard signs," Faircloth said.

He said he got involved to make a difference.

He wanted to help Midland keep taxes low for growth and improve the welfare of residents, Faircloth said.

"That kind of expanded to want to do things for Texas. Certainly, I think everyone here wants to make changes for our entire country," he said.

Faircloth said he and his fellow Texas delegates aren't happy with the present direction of the country when it comes to government spending and deficits.

He enthusiastically backs Romney.

"He's been a very successful businessperson in almost everything he's ever done, and so I think that's what we need in a president is someone who has a track record of being successful," Faircloth said.

Faircloth said more than half of the members of the Texas delegation are attending their first RNC, "which is a good thing because the Republican Party believes that we need fresh ideas, fresh people."